9/11 Commission: US cybersecurity lags ‘far behind’ threat of attack

Terrorism remains a serious threat a decade after the 9/11 Commission issued its first report on the attacks in 2001, and one of the greatest threats are cyber attacks.

The panel, led by former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, points specifically to US cybersecurity against terrorism in its new report, “Reflections on the Tenth Anniversary of The 9/11 Commission Report.” The group concluded cyber risks far outpace our preparedness.

“A growing chorus of senior national security officials describes the cyber domain as the battlefield of the future,” according to the 48-page report. “Yet Congress has been unable to pass basic cybersecurity legislation, despite repeated attempts.

“In the words of one former senior leader with whom we spoke, ‘We are at September 10th levels in terms of cyber preparedness.’ That needs to change. One lesson of the 9/11 story is that, as a nation, Americans did not awaken to the gravity of the terrorist threat until it was too late. We must not repeat that mistake in the cyber realm,” the panel warned.

The commission calls on Congress to enact cybersecurity legislation with private-public cooperation, and communicate with the public on what the consequences of a cyber attack on the US will be. Americans remain largely unaware of the multitude of cyber attacks on this country, they said. Additionally, the US should work with allies to clearly define what is considered a cyber attack by one country on another.

In protecting the cyber domain, the commission said to outline responsibilities among government agencies—with the National Security Agency “playing a key role.”

“Domestic agencies, like the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, should complement, rather than replicate, the NSA’s technical capabilities,” the report said.

Possibly due to the Edward Snowden leaks and the fact a growing portion of the workforce was not old enough to remember or be affected by 9/11, there are not enough people applying for national security jobs.

The latter could also be to blame for the country’s “counterterrorism fatigue.”

“One of America’s most pressing challenges as a country is to resist the natural urge to relax our guard.”

The commission said al-Qaeda continues to pose a serious threat despite US and allied military and intelligence efforts to strike the organization—including killing leader Osama Bin Laden. Affiliates and groups tied to al-Qaeda have dispersed in the Middle East and occupy more countries today than 5 years ago.